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Hidden Treasures of Paris: Jardin des Plantes [Jardin Alpine] (5th Arrond.)

// September 7th, 2009 // Comments // Treasures

After taking advantage of the first Sunday of the month here in Paris to gain free entry to the Pompidou Centre, I couldn’t help but track down another one of Paris’ “hidden gardens.” Roughly a 25 minute walk from Pompidou sits Jardin des Plantes, the premiere botanical garden in France. On the garden’s grounds sits a botanical school, four galleries of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, several specialized gardens, a labyrinth and even a small zoo.

Jardin des Plantes - Jardin Alpine, Paris, France

Originally designed as a medical herb garden in 1626 by Louis XIII’s physician, Guy de La Brosse, this garden now welcomes tens of thousands of visitors a year. As previously mentioned, Jardin des Plantes is separated into several smaller, themed gardens, including: a rose garden, botanical garden, irises/climbing plants, tropical garden and the alpine garden. While entry to the Jardin des Plantes is free, there is a small 1€ fee for each specialized garden. I chose to visit the Jardin Alpine, in particular, after having read good things about it in the New York Times–I was not disappointed.

The Jardin Alpine is somewhat of a sanctuary within the relatively busy Jardin des Plantes. Contained within the garden’s walls, you will find plants from many of the mountain ranges around France (including Provence, Cevennes and the Pyrenees) as well as the world. Walkways made of small stone pebbles lead you throughout the garden. The paths take you across tiny streams, by moss-covered bogs, and up and down small plateaus. The closer one gets to the back of the garden, the thicker and more beautiful the vegetation gets.

A truly delightful experience, the Jardin Alpine is well worth the 1€ donation to the beautiful Jardin des Plantes. One could easily spend half a day visiting all of the gardens and galleries within the Jardin, but if that’s not your style, I highly recommend taking an hour out of your day to take a stroll through the Jardin Alpine when you get the chance.

Want to see pictures from my visit? Jardin des Plantes Photos

Want to see a video of my visit? Jardin des Plantes Video

Want to see this location on a map? Map of My Visits

Hidden Treasures of Paris: Jardin de la Vallée Suisse (8th Arrond.)

// September 5th, 2009 // Comments // Treasures

Paris is well known for its magnificent gardens such as the Tuileries or the Jardin du Luxembourg. However, there are many lesser known gardens, some of which are hidden behind tall hedges or on unassuming corners of Paris. Today, venturing out in my own arrondissement (the 8th e.), I discovered Jardin de la Vallée Suisse. This tiny garden, tucked away behind a series of tall hedges on the corner of the corner of Ave. Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Vallée Suisse (next to the Palais de la Découverte), takes of all of 1.7 acres on this busy corner.

Jardin de la Vallée Suisse, Paris, France

Built in the late 19th century by the park designer Jean-Charles Adolphe Alphand, the average passerby would never notice the hidden treasure that sits just meters away. One enters the garden by walking down a series of stone steps and then passes through a stone archway, revealing the wonderful hidden jewel that is Jardin de la Vallée Suisse. Once in the garden, one finds himself surrounded by bamboo, lemon trees, roses, ivy, hanging vines and evergreens. Completely secluded from the busy Paris streets, I found myself completely alone in this garden—the sounds of the traffic barely audible, drowned out by the trickle of the tiny waterfall that feeds the beautiful pond just inside the garden. The pond and stream, as I later learned, are fed by the Seine. This splendid pond is home to many fish and is regularly visited by chirping birds of all sorts.

The privacy and serenity that Jardin de la Vallée Suisse provides makes it ideal for an intimate conversation, romantic rendezvous, or just a quiet day of reading alone. Foot-traffic is light in the garden, so one need not worry about having to share it with many others.

Want to see a photos of my visit? Jardin de la Vallée Suisse Photos

Want to see a video of my visit? Jardin de la Vallée Suisse Video

Want to see this location on a map? Map of My Visits